Lorraine 12Rcr Radium
| Company type | Aircraft piston engine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | Early 1930s |
| Products | Liquid-cooled inverted V-12 piston engines |
The Lorraine 12Rcr Radium was a liquid-cooled, inverted 60º V-12 piston engine developed specifically for French racing seaplanes competing in the early 1930s Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (Schneider Trophy) competitions.
Design and development
France aimed to achieve three consecutive victories in the Schneider Trophy but had not succeeded. To pursue this goal, the STIAé issued requirements to three manufacturers for a racing seaplane powered by a purpose-built engine: the Lorraine 12Rcr Radium.
This engine utilized an inverted V-12 configuration combined with liquid cooling, a supercharger, and a reduction gearbox. It was engineered to produce at 4,000 rpm from a relatively small displacement and had a weight of . Bench testing incorporated Rateau turbochargers; however, these components were not fully matured.
Operational history
Although six units were ordered, only three engines were completed; the remaining were used as mock-ups for aircraft by Bernard and Nieuport-Delage. Testing commenced in March 1931 but advanced at a slow pace, with the first fully assembled engine delivered to Dewoitine by July 1931. The second engine underwent testing at Lorraine, reaching 3,000 rpm but raised concerns regarding airworthiness, resulting in its rejection for flight operations. Following Great Britain's permanent acquisition of the Schneider Trophy, further development of these specialized engines was discontinued.
Applications
The 12Rcr was either installed in or planned for use on: